{"id":81,"date":"2026-06-28T03:09:03","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T18:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/malta-lifestyle.com\/?page_id=81"},"modified":"2026-06-28T03:09:03","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T18:09:03","slug":"malta-the-island-where-dreams-come-true","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/malta-lifestyle.com\/?page_id=81","title":{"rendered":"Malta “The Island Where Dreams Come True”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hi there\ud83d\udc4b I’m Tomoka! Thank you so much for visiting my blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this blog, I want to share my thoughts and experiences as a 24-year-old living in Malta, as well as introduce some of my favorite spots around this beautiful island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this post, I\u2019d like to share a little bit about myself and the journey that brought me here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why I Decided to Move to Malta<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I made the decision to move to Malta around October of last year. Before that, I knew almost nothing about the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As my Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa in London was coming to an end, I decided to take a leap of faith and move to Malta\u2014an island where my partner has family roots. Time flies, and this month officially marks my sixth month of living here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Story: Chasing the Modeling Dream in Paris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of becoming a model. Right after graduating from high school, I moved to France all by myself and managed to sign with a modeling agency in Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living in a sharehouse on the outskirts of Paris, my new life was far from easy. I struggled to secure enough work, and unable to renew my visa, I eventually had to return to Japan with a heavy heart. Back in Japan, I felt completely lost and spent my days feeling anxious and restless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2728 The beautiful streets of Paris I saw in my teens remain one of my greatest treasures.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

After returning, I joined an agency in Tokyo, but things didn’t go as planned there either. Once I passed the age of 20, I began to think it was time to give up on my modeling dream for good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Longing for Europe and the Journey to London<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite giving up on modeling, my desire to live in Europe never truly faded. For three long years, I kept applying for the UK’s YMS visa lottery. On my sixth attempt\u2014just when I was about to give up entirely, thinking it would never happen\u2014I finally won the visa in my very last eligible year and happily moved to London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I arrived in London, I didn’t have a specific career goal. I just wanted to leave Japan, live freely in a place where nobody knew me, and start fresh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, I heard that the Michelin-starred French restaurant where I had worked part-time in Japan also had a branch in London. Through a connection, I landed a job there. It became my very first full-time job as an adult\u2014working at a historic, elegant French restaurant nestled in London’s bustling business district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From there, my passion for wine blossomed. I started studying to become a sommelier, eventually changed jobs, and prepared to take the sommelier certification exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udf77 My days in London were filled with the joy of learning about wine.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Sudden Move to a Sunny Island<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As my two years in London drew to a close, I felt a strong desire to finally settle down somewhere stable. While a big part of me wanted to stay in London, it was difficult to envision a long-term future there. At the same time, returning to Japan didn’t feel right either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right at that crossroads, my partner\u2014who has roots in Malta\u2014suggested we try living there together. With very little knowledge about the country, I managed to secure a job, pack my bags as my UK visa expired, and relocate to the island of Malta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adjusting to Malta Life & Restarting My Modeling Career<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Having only ever lived in big, bustling cities, I initially struggled with the unique dynamics of island life\u2014the close-knit community and the much slower pace of time. I constantly missed my life in London, had no friends here yet, and felt incredibly anxious about whether I could survive on this island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, an unexpected turning point arrived. Due to the lengthy administrative process, it took over three months for my work visa to be approved. Since the application was in progress, I couldn’t return to Japan, leaving me with an abundance of free time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Out of pure curiosity, I stumbled upon a Maltese modeling agency on Instagram and decided to send them some photos. To my surprise, the agency’s director wanted to meet right away, and just like that, I restarted my career as a model after a three-year hiatus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding Peace and Freedom on the Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Approaching this unexpected second chance after having once given up on my dream, my mindset was surprisingly calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that I have a primary job and don’t rely on modeling to pay the bills, I can do it purely for myself, simply because I love it. This subtle shift changed everything. The immense pressure I used to feel completely vanished, and I no longer ride an emotional rollercoaster with every audition. Ironically, letting go of that pressure has led to booking even more work than before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malta has taught me a completely new way of living\u2014one that prioritizes my own well-being. I’ve learned how to say no to things that don’t serve me and how to build a work-life balance centered around my happiness. Because of this, I’ve truly come to love the person I am while living in this country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slowly but surely, I\u2019ve made wonderful friends, and I deeply appreciate the happiness of living on this beautiful island surrounded by the sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udf0a The pure bliss of having the ocean always by my side.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I hope to continue documenting my life, discoveries, and memories on this island bit by bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you so much for reading until the very end!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With love,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tomoka<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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